Omagh inquiry bill passes Oireachtas – O’Callaghan
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has announced the passage of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 through the Houses of the Oireachtas (26 May).
The legislation provides a bespoke legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of sworn testimony from State bodies and former ministerial office holders before a judge of the High Court for the purposes of the Omagh bombing inquiry.
Mechanism
The mechanism will be available to the chairman of the inquiry over its lifetime and will allow for assistance to be sought as matters arise in the course of his work.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “This legislation relating to oral testimony will add to the suite of measures already implemented.
Disclosure
“This includes the memorandum of understanding which I signed with the chairman of the inquiry last year relating to the disclosure of Irish State materials, and the data protection regulations that I signed in November to enable the disclosure of sensitive personal data to the inquiry.”
Assisting an inquiry established under the law of another sovereign state is legally complex and requires innovative solutions, he added.
“The legislation provides a robust statutory framework that seeks to maximise the assistance to be provided to the Inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference while also safeguarding, insofar as that is necessary, the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses involved,” he said.
Proposals to address wider legacy issues will be brought to Government in the coming weeks.